The registration process for XAT 2026 has started from July 10, 2025, and the XAT 2026 application form is available online. The official notification is published on the website xatonline.in. The XAT 2026 exam is scheduled to take place on January 4, 2026. It will be conducted in a computer-based test (CBT) mode at various examination centres across India.
If you meet the XAT eligibility criteria, you’ll need to fill out the XAT 2026 registration form to appear for the computer-based test. Read on to know everything about XAT 2026.
The XAT exam is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by XLRI (Xavier Labour Relations Institute), Jamshedpur. It is held on behalf of XAMI (Xavier Associate Management Institute) for admission into MBA and PGDM programs at Xavier B-Schools and other top management colleges across India.
If you're planning to pursue an MBA or PGDM, you should know that over 160 B-schools in India accept XAT scores. XAT 2026 will be conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur, and it remains one of the oldest and most respected competitive exams in the country, known for using modern testing methodologies. If you're interested in Human Resources, XLRI's HR program—its flagship course—is considered one of the best in Asia.
XAT is held once a year, typically in January. To move forward in the admission process, you'll need to meet the XAT 2026 cut-off set by the participating institutes. If you're an international candidate, you can appear for the GMAT 2025 and apply to the GMP (General Management Programme) with your scores.
Check the table below for more key details about the XAT entrance exam.
| Highlights |
Particulars |
| Exam Name |
XAT 2026 |
| Full Form |
Xavier Aptitude Test |
| Exam Level |
National Level |
| Conducted By |
XLRI, Xavier School of Management |
| Mode of Application |
Online |
| Languages |
English |
| Exam Mode |
Online |
| Exam Duration |
180 Minutes |
| Course Offered |
MBA/PGDM |
| Official Website |
xatonline.in |
| Helpdesk |
admis@xlri.ac.in |
XLRI Jamshedpur started the XAT exam 2026 registration procedure on July 10, 2025. XAT exam date 2026 will be published on the official website and will be conducted in Jan 4, 2026. Applicants can refer to the table below to know important dates related to the XAT 2026.
XAT Exam Date 2026
| Events |
Dates |
| Registration opens |
July 10, 2025 |
| Registration closes |
Dec 2025 |
|
1st Mock Test
2nd Mock Test
|
Sep 2025
Oct 2025
|
| XAT Admit card download |
December 2025 |
| XAT Exam date |
January 4, 2026 (2:00 pm to 5:30 pm) |
| Shortlist for Interview |
End of January |
| Interviews |
Mid-February - Mid-March |
| Offers and Waitlist |
April 2026 |
| Academic Session begins |
Mid-June, 2026 |
XLRI expects the applicants to satisfy some eligibility criteria before proceeding to fill out the application form. XAT exam eligibility includes age, and academic details, among various other prerequisites. The details related XAT entrance exam to the same can be found below.
- Candidates must have completed a bachelor's degree.
- They should have pursued at least a 3-year UG program.
- Candidates in the final year of their graduation degree can apply for XAT 2026, provided they should complete their degree by Jun 2026.
- The conducting authorities do not specify any upper age limit for the applicants.
| Particulars |
Details |
| Age limit |
No upper age limit |
| Educational Qualification |
Minimum 3 years of a Bachelor's Degree |
| Nationality |
NRI/Foreign/Indian |
Candidates should note that there is no reservation except for the 5% relaxation to SC/ST/PwD candidates in the final year marks of their bachelor's degree. The candidates must verify whether they fulfil the XAT eligibility criteria 2026 before applying for the XAT 2026 exam. They can regularly check this page for further updates and information regarding the XAT exam.
Also Read: XAT vs CAT
XAT 2026 registration started on the official website on July 10, 2025. Candidates must read the instructions carefully before filling out the XAT application form 2026.
Interested candidates can apply only online for the XAT 2026. They have to pay the application fee of INR 1800. Apart from this for each XAT 2026 program that they choose, they are liable to pay INR 300.
| Application Details |
Online |
| Registration Fee (without any late fee) |
INR 2100 |
| Individual Fee for Each Additional Subject Selected for XAT |
INR 200 |
| Fee for Indian Candidates Applying for Ex-PGDM through GMAT or GRE |
INR 2500 |
| Fee for NRI/foreign Candidates for One or More Programs |
INR 5000 |
Note:
- Candidates can apply for more than one program in a single XAT application 2026 but the candidate has to pay separately for every program he or she chooses.
- Candidates can take a printout of the XAT 2026 application form for future use.
How to Register for XAT?
The registration process comprises certain steps for the procedure, which the candidates can follow to register for the XAT exam 2026 successfully. The entire XAT 2026 registration process is explained below.
- Step 1: Candidates must visit xatonline.in, the official website of XAT 2026.
- Step 2: Choose the tab "New Registration" and enter a name, date of birth, contact details, and email ID.
- Step 3: A system-generated XAT login ID and password will be sent to you through Email/SMS.
- Step 4: Students should note down their XAT IDs and passwords for future use.
- Step 5: After registering, the candidate should fill in personal details and other educational background details.
- Step 6: Finally, the candidate should upload the necessary documents (as per the given specifications).
- Step 7: The final step is to pay the application fee and click on the 'Submit button.
The XAT Exam is divided into three sections. The XAT syllabus 2026 covers topics from all these sections. Part 1 consists of topics from decision-making, verbal and logical ability, quantitative ability and data interpretation. The second part consists of a five-minute session of mock keyboard testing, and the third section consists of GK and short, short essay-type questions. PWD candidates are given 20 minutes extra in every part.
XAT Verbal and Logical Ability Syllabus
- Para jumbled
- Grammar
- Paragraph completion
- Vocabulary
- Reading comprehension
XAT Decision-Making Syllabus
- Situational events
- Case studies
- Data arrangement
- Analytical reasoning
XAT Data Interpretation and Quantitative Ability Syllabus
- Tables, Graphs
- Geometry
- Statistics
- Profit and Loss
- Speed and Distance
- Clocks
XAT General Knowledge Syllabus
- News
- History
- Politics
- Sports
- Economics
- International Relations
- Society updates
Marks obtained in General Knowledge are not taken into consideration while calculating percentile and in the counselling procedure; however, some of the institutes might consider GK's marks.
The best way to prepare for the XAT exam would be by working smart rather than working hard. XAT is slightly different from the other MBA exams. The candidates need to know about the techniques and ways by which they can clear the XAT exam and score high. Strategies and planning will allow the candidates to understand the different types of questions that can be asked in the question paper and also let them prepare exceptionally well. Candidates can follow the tips given below.
- Plan Properly: Candidates should plan very well before starting the preparation process. They should make a timetable or a chart which should be followed by the candidates properly to stay on course and not deviate from the course of preparation. The candidates need to follow the plan throughout the preparation process. The candidates should plan for the XAT 2026 Exam accordingly and prepare.
- Stay Focused: Preparing for XAT 2026 and clearing the exam would be easy if you prepare for the exam in a calm and focused manner. Try to keep it as simple as possible. The lack of either of them would pose a problem for you. Make sure that you never give up. This exam consists of a decision-making section. One can answer those, only when his mind is calm and focused. Lack of concentration will deviate you from the course of preparation and the topics cannot be learned with full understanding. Hence it is very important to be focused.
- Attempt the Simpler Questions First: The XAT exam has a negative marking. You cannot afford to make any wild guesses while answering. Make sure that you only attempt those questions whose answers you know. Only after attempting all the questions that you know, should you try attending to the remaining questions. It is advised to leave any doubtful question, to avoid negative marking. Another aspect associated with this is that the candidates need not spend excess time on the uncertain questions and this way more time can be spent on known questions.
- Time Management: If one wants to excel in time management he/she has to undergo rigorous practice. You can achieve this by taking at least 10-15 mock tests and solving the previous year's question papers. This would help you get familiarized with the syllabus and exam pattern. Attending the exam by efficiently optimizing time not only saves time but also allows you to check the answers that are answered already.
- Mock Tests: XAT mock tests form an integral part of the preparation phase. It is important to take as many mocks as possible and analyze them fully to improve the scores. It helps you to practise and perform better in the actual exam. It also helps you to optimize time during the actual test. You will also be able to prioritize and carefully use time on questions that require a lot of time and those which do not.
- Previous Years' Question Papers: You can prepare using the XAT previous years question papers also, as that will help you get an idea of the actual test. It helps you to understand the type and distribution of questions in the question paper. This way you can anticipate questions and orders by which they will be asked in the XAT exam.
XAT Preparation Books
Below is a list of the top XAT books 2025, listed by section, for preparing for the XAT 2026 exam.
| Section |
Name of the Book |
Author/ Publisher |
| QADI |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations |
R S Aggarwal |
| How to Prepare for QA for CAT |
Arun Sharma |
| Data Interpretation for CAT |
Nishit K Sinha |
| Quantum CAT |
S K Verma |
| Verbal & Logical Ability |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
Ajay Singh |
| Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis |
| How to Prepare for VARC for CAT |
Arun Sharma |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning |
R S Aggarwal |
| Decision Making |
Jabbing the XAT |
R K Jha |
| XAT Solved Papers |
Gautam Puri |
| Target XAT Simplified Edition |
Disha Experts |
| General Knowledge |
Manorama Year Book |
Mammen Mathew |
| Lucent’s Objective GK |
Lucent Publications |
| General Knowledge |
Manohar Pandey |
The exam authority has extended the exam duration from 190 minutes to 210 minutes. Candidates can get 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete the XAT exam 2026. Candidates need to understand the pattern of the XAT question paper, before appearing for the XAT test.
They must be aware of the marking scheme, the duration in hand, and the number of questions to be solved, to get admission into their targeted B-school. Some of the highlights of the revised XAT exam pattern 2026 are discussed in this section.
- Mode: XAT 2026 will be conducted online.
- Duration: 210 minutes (3 Hours and 30 Minutes).
XAT Exam Marking Scheme
- In the previous two years, there have been no significant changes to the XAT marking scheme. It is advised to remember the following crucial details about the XAT 2026 Marking Scheme:
- Each MCQ is worth one mark. 0.25 points are subtracted for each unsatisfactory response.
- The reduction of 0.10 marks for each question that is not attempted after 8 unattended questions is a distinctive aspect of the XAT exam marking structure.
- Only the candidates who have been selected for the PI round have their essays examined.
- The GK part does not receive any failing grades. The final XAT scores are computed without taking GK scores into account.
The information related to the no. of questions and marks carried by each of the sections can be found in the table below.
XAT 2026 Exam Pattern
| Subject |
Number of Questions |
Number of Marks |
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA & LR) |
26 |
26 |
| Decision Making (DM) |
21 |
21 |
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation |
28 |
28 |
| General Knowledge |
25 |
25 |
| Total |
100 |
100 Marks |
Candidates can check in with this page regularly for further updates or information related to the XAT 2026 Exam Pattern and also other associated events or sections.
The XAT exam will be held in about 79 different cities nationwide. The applicants must choose a number of cities, in order of preference, where they would like to appear for XAT 2026. The candidates must choose XAT exam centres thoughtfully.
Several times, XAT exam centres 2026 cannot accommodate the number of candidates who had opted for that particular venue. In such cases, the candidates will be required to appear for XAT 2026 in the city chosen as the second option.
XAT Exam Day Guidelines
- To ensure a stress-free exam day, XAT 2026 candidates must adhere to the regulations established by the testing organisation. The following are important XAT exam day requirements that candidates must adhere to.
- Arrive at the testing location one hour before the reporting time.
- Bring no electronic devices, such as a watch, calculator, cell phone, etc., to the testing location.
- Do not bring any snacks or stationery to the exam location.
Documents to carry on XAT Exam Day
- XAT Admit card
- Aadhar card
- Voter ID
- Passport, College/University ID
- Driver’s license
The XAT 2026 admit card will be released online and can be downloaded from the official XAT website — xatonline.in. Only registered candidates will be able to access and download their admit cards by logging into the portal using their credentials.
How to Download the XAT Exam Admit Card?
The procedure to download and save the XAT hall ticket 2026 is given below.
- Step 1: Candidates should visit the official website.
- Step 2: Upon reaching the webpage, you have to log in to your account with your credentials: your user ID and password, which will be provided after registration.
- Step 3: After logging in, click on the "Download Admit Card" option, and your download will start. You can print 2 copies of your admit card.
| XAT Particulars |
Download Link |
| XAT 2024 Admit Card Download Link |
To Be Updated |
XAT 2026 exam analysis will be released after the exam will be conducted on January 4, 2026. XAT exam analysis 2026 includes details like the difficulty level of the exam, section-wise difficulty level, and weightage of each section. The analysis is curated based on the feedback provided by the test takers.
The XAT provisional answer key 2026 will be available for download 2-3 days after the exam. Candidates who will appear for the exam can access their XAT 2026 answer key/response sheet on the official website at xatonline.in.
Candidates can raise objections against their response during the objection window. The official deadline for the same will be announced soon. XAT's final answer key will be released after considering the objections raised against the provisional answer key. Candidates can download both from the official website.
In addition, various coaching institutes will release the unofficial and memory-based answer keys for XAT 2026, soon after the exam is conducted. These memory-based XAT 2026 answer keys will not be considered official, and no objections will be accepted against them.
Steps to Download XAT Answer Key
Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to download the XAT answer key 2026.
- Step 1: Candidates must visit the official website at xatonline.in.
- Step 2: Applicants must log in using their XAT user ID and password.
- Step 3: They must click on the candidate response to generate the answer key and the question paper.
- Step 4: The page will be redirected and the XAT answer key will be displayed on the screen.
- Step 5: Candidates must check the correct options, marked in green, and the responses of candidates mentioned after the question ID.
XAT 2026 results will be released on the official website in Jan 2026. The registered candidates can download the XAT scorecard 2026 from the official website by logging in with their credentials, such as the XAT ID and date of birth.
XAT scorecard will be available on the official website till Mar 2026. XAT 2026 results have been prepared based on the marks scored by the candidates in the exam, and a merit list will be put on the official website.
XAT exam scorecard includes the following.
- Sectional scores
- Sectional percentile
- Overall score
- Overall percentile
- The validity of the scorecard and
- The candidate details are mentioned in the application form.
How to Check XAT Results?
Follow the below-mentioned steps to check/download the XAT results 2026.
- Step 1: Candidates must visit the official website
- Step 2: Enter your registration number and date of birth to access your XAT 2026 Result.
- Step 3: The candidate can now log in to the official website with the provided XAT User ID and Password.
- Step 4: Once logged in, choose the year and you can view the results. You can also save it as a PDF for future reference.
XAT cutoff 2025 will be been made available on the official website for both PGDM Business Management (BM) and Human Resources Management (HRM) programs. The detailed cutoff marks for the last year are shared below.
| Program |
Category |
Gender |
Overall |
VALR |
DM |
QA |
| PGD Business Management (BM) |
General Engineering |
Male |
96 |
84 |
84 |
88 |
| |
Female |
91 |
80 |
80 |
82 |
| |
General Non- Engineering |
Male |
96 |
84 |
84 |
88 |
| |
Female |
91 |
80 |
80 |
82 |
| PGDM Human Resource Management (HRM) |
General Engineering |
Male |
95 |
90 |
87 |
83 |
| |
Female |
90 |
85 |
80 |
73 |
| |
General Non- Engineering |
Male |
93 |
90 |
87 |
76 |
| |
Female |
87 |
85 |
80 |
68 |
Also Read: MBA at IMT Ghaziabad 2026
Candidates have to go through a selection procedure to gain admission to the B-schools. After the XAT 2026 results and merit lists are out, candidates can submit the marks carefully to the desired colleges. The colleges will reach out to qualified candidates for the counselling procedure.
XAT 2026 selection procedure will be held in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Jamshedpur in Feb and Mar 2026 tentatively now. XAT counselling 2026 will contain the selection criteria rounds as mentioned above.
Step 1: Shortlisting of candidates
Based on their performance in the XAT exam 2026, candidates will be chosen for a group discussion and personal interview at XLRI, Jamshedpur.
Step 2: Group Discussion and Personal Interview
By the end of Jan 2026, XLRI, Jamshedpur will release the schedule for the group discussion and individual interview with the chosen candidates. XAT 2026 admission process will take place in several places, and candidates must confirm their interview city on the official XLRI website within the allotted window of time.
Step 3: Final Selection
To create the final merit list, each applicant will be assessed based on their XAT 2026 score, GD/PI performance, academic background, and other factors. Selected applicants will get calls to finish the admission requirements.
Selection Procedure of Other Institutes Accepting XAT Scores
For admission to their MBA/PGDM programmes, institutions that accept the XAT score have their own application and admissions procedures. While some institutions open their registration period well in advance of the XAT exam, others begin the registration procedure following the release of the XAT results 2026.
XLRI will go through the overall performance of the respective candidates and publish a final list of the selected candidates. Some of the factors mentioned below can also be a plus point for the selection of the candidates:
- Work experience
- Extra curriculum
- Academic Records
Check These XAT Percentile Details for Clarity:
With a 100% placement rate, XLRI has finished the placements for the 2022 cohort of the PGDM BM and PGDM HRM programmes. Here is a quick rundown of the 2022 batch's placement data at XLRI Jamshedpur:
- 24 per cent of the candidates received offers from consulting businesses.
- ITES, e-commerce, and gaming made up 27% of the job opportunities provided to students.
- 25% of the offers were from sales and marketing.
- Most offers were made by Amazon, Paytm, ITC, BCG, Accenture Strategy, and Microsoft.
| Category |
Details |
| Total Recruiters |
99 |
| New Recruiters |
23 |
| Total Students |
427 |
| Percentage of Students who received Pre-placement Offers |
40.28% |
| Median Salary |
INR 29 LPA |
| Average Salary |
INR 30.73 LPA |
| Highest Domestic Offer |
INR 60+ LPA (BFSI Domain) |
| Highest International Offer |
INR 58.5 LPA (S & M Domain) |
| Top 10th Percentile Average Salary |
INR 48.42 LPA |
| Top 25th Percentile Average Salary |
INR 41.2 LPA |
| Top Recruiters |
ITC, Paytm, Accenture, Freshworks, Microsoft, American Express, Amazon, Swiggy, PWC |
In addition to XLRI, Jamshedpur, 11 members of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI) and more than 1,000 additional MBA programmes throughout India recognise the XAT score.
The chart of some of the well-known business schools that accept XAT scores for admission is provided below.
Candidates can apply for more than one program with an additional fee for each. If that candidate clears the cutoff and XAT 2026 Selection Criteria then he or she will be called for the selection process.
The selection process generally consists of:
- GD (Group Discussion)
- Writing
- PI (Personal Interview) rounds.
Based on the student's performance in these rounds he or she will be admitted to a program. Call letters will be sent by mail to each of the qualified candidates and one has to report to the location to attend the XAT counselling process.
If candidates have any doubts or queries then they can contact the concerned authorities. The contact details are given below:
- Address: XLRI Xavier School of Management, Circuit House Area (East), Jamshedpur 831001
- Ph no: 0657-665-3203/04/05
- Fax: 0657-665-3200/2227814
- Toll-Free no: 1800-267-4008
